Sent: 2021-10-20
From: EIU
To: Various Recipients
Subject: Call for textbook pilot participants
Dear Faculty,
In spring 2020, the Textbook Rental Task Force submitted a report with recommendations for adjustments to the textbook rental system. Those recommendations included 1) encouraging faculty to use Open Educational Resources (OER) for course readings and 2) implementing a pilot program of using digital textbooks (eBooks). We have received permission to continue a pilot study of these two recommendations and are seeking faculty volunteers to participate in one of the following two groups.
• Open Educational Resources (OER) Pilot Group
• Open to any faculty member who would be willing to use open educational resources (free online instructional materials including textbooks and other resources) in place of a printed textbook for one semester. Links to OER resources at EIU can be found at the end of this email, and through other sources located with the help of Booth library staff. Faculty who are already using OER should also join this group.
• eBook Pilot Group
• You should search redshelf.com to find if there is a digital version of your desired textbook. Textbook rental will arrange the purchase of the digital textbooks for students.
It is expected that all participating faculty will share feedback regarding their experience through a brief survey at the conclusion of the spring semester. Your students may also be invited to provide anonymous feedback about their experience. All students in participating classes will continue to be billed the textbook rental fee ($9.75/credit hour).
At the conclusion of the pilot, faculty may choose one of the following options depending on your group membership:
• OER Group
• Continue to use open educational resources; or
• Revert to using your previous printed textbook offered through Textbook Rental Services
• eBook Group
• We cannot guarantee that you will have access to the digital version of your textbook in subsequent semesters. Thus, you have the following options:
1. Revert to using your previous printed textbook offered through Textbook Rental Services
2. If the rental period for your regular textbook has exceeded 2 years or 3 semesters of use (whichever is longer), you may submit a “Request for New Textbook Purchase” form to Textbook Rental for a print edition of a new textbook.
Volunteers should indicate their interest on a brief Qualtrics survey by November 1.
https://eiu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a5kxUbZNUI9u7P0
